1. Bride - Here Is Your God
Here Is Your God stands apart as perhaps the finest work from metal and hard rock veterans Bride since its iconic 1992 release Snakes In The Playground. Musically, the group stays true to its blues based hard rock roots while integrating straight on metal components hearkening back to its flagship eighties material.
2. Stryper - Even The Devil Believes
Even The Devil Believes upholds the run of musical consistency from Stryper since the 2013 release of its eights album No More Hell To Pay. Album opens to a decisive seven-song stretch only rivaled by that on 1989 Deliverance self-titled debut in terms of impact.
3. Messenger - In To Win
Third album In To Win represents a step up for Messenger, whom stays true to the musical formula of its predecessors by joining gritty hard rock and guitar driven heavy metal. Key factor is songwriting in that In To Win features 13 songs with not a skip button among them.
4. Sombre Holiday - The Failed Sun
Progressive gothic and doom metal project of brothers Terry and Trevor Friesen hits its stride with fifth album The Failed Sun. Lyrically, it conceptually bases upon the potential power restoration in our relationships with God and others.
5. Sonic Divide - The Other Side
Melodic hard rock sophomore album from Adelaide, Australia’s Sonic Divide heads in a heavier direction than every bit highly regarded AOR infused self-titled debut from 2013. Group maintains its musical consistency with 12 equally good songs in addition to continuity from carrying over the same lineup from one album to the next.
6. Oblivion Myth - In Your Arms
Third Oblivion Myth full length In Your Arms derives of classic US and European power metal while hinting of that on the progressive, symphonic, traditional and even thrash side. A video to the track “Thousand Years” ranks among my favorites of the year.
7. Enzo & The Glory Ensemble - In The Name Of The World Spirit
Enzo & The Glory Ensemble uphold a ‘metal opera’ formula, noting predecessor and 2017 Angelic Warlord album of the year recipient In The Name Of The Son, rooted in power and progressive metal but influenced by classical music, symphonic rock and World & Ethnic music. The brainchild of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Enzo Donnarumma also continues to make a focal point recruiting a host of distinguished musicians for guest appearance.
8. Atkins May Project - The Final Cut
Project of Christian guitarist Paul May and original Judas Priest vocalist Al Atkins sustain a New Wave of British Heavy Metal trajectory on fourth full length outing The Final Cut. Of note is the eye catching cover art of renowned artist Rodney Matthews.
9. Saint - The Calf
Veteran classic metal act Saint follows-up on six-year hiatus with its ninth full-length album and best package of songs since Hell Blade from ten years ago. New front man David Nelson complements the muscular Saint sound with his raspy and assertive style.
Side Note: The Calf shipped in December of 2019, so it made sense to include it as part of the Angelic Warlord list of top 25 albums from 2019. That said, since the albums packaging notes a release date in 2020, we feel obligated to include it here as well
10. Deny The Fallen - Symptoms Of Eternity
Deny The Fallen debut Symptoms Of Eternity heads in a ‘modern metal’ direction that walks a fine line between the ‘old school’ and that current. Group’s roster includes Sacred Warrior alumni vocalist Rey Parra and guitarist Jonathan Johnson.
Side Note: Album also has a release history: initially available as a download in 2018 and independently released on CD the following year (but with Store Envy shipping costs putting it outside any reasonable budget). Fortunately, Retroactive Records stepped to the plate for an official CD release in 2020.
11. Neal Morse - Sola Gratia
Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Neal Morse extends his run of consistency with latest in what has been a long line of top-notch progressive based solo concept albums. Apostle Paul is subject at hand this time around.
12. Fierce Heart - War For The World
Comeback of the year award goes to Fierce Heart and renowned shredder Rex Carroll (Whitecross) for following up 1985 self-titled debut with sophomore effort War For The World. Delivered in the process is a heavier eighties based metal sound as opposed to the commercial vestiges to Fierce Heart.
13. Wytch Hazel - III: Pentecost
The third album from Lancaster, UK quartet to affiliate New Wave of British Heavy Metal and a twin Thin Lizzy style guitar attack with folk rock eccentricities. When further factoring its emphasis on sacred medieval music, Wytch Hazel impresses as residing firmly in the Middle Ages.
14. Evans & Stokes - Diary Of The Damned
Multi-national act Evans & Stokes, referencing United States guitarist John Evans & New Zealand based vocalist Jenny Stokes, preserves its emphasizing of straight on metal with Gothic overtures. The joining of melody and doom-like trudging to “Eternal Punishment” rates among best songs of the year.
15. Slaves Wage - Heaven Or Hell
On third album Heaven Or Hell, Slaves Wage spares no expense in terms of immaculate production (of a big budget variety) and top notch packaging (cover art is among years most eye catching), Oh, and the music is pretty good too, noting the groups affinity for eighties influenced metal and blues based hard rock.
16. Mike Botello - Indigenous
Veteran vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mike Botello returns with fourth solo album Indigenous in which he delivers 60 minutes of metal ranging from progressive to doom to traditional to power to instrumental. Conceptually, it draws upon all of his previous works (as noted in the artists press material):
‘Time is but a measure… the beginning and the end: a context of life. A Spiritual Warfare that is bound to A Timeless State: never governed by the Rule Of Law. Ever focused on the Indigenous inhabitants of the earth: the spiritual battle ground… Time, is for mankind…’
17. Lordchain - The Shadow Project
On The Shadow Project Lordchain continues to focus on a foundation of straightforward hard rock and metal laced with occasional groove and modern overtones. It works in light of the group’s melodic songwriting but within a darker and somber musical framework aligning with the albums title.
18. Thobias Wiklund - Playing Loud
Second solo album from Swedish guitarist breaks down between melodic hard rock vocal numbers (seven) and song orientated instrumentals (two). Upshot is an ‘all-star’ project to feature co-lead vocalists Peo Pettersson (Leviticus) and Goran Edman (John Norum & Yngwie Malmsteen) in addition to drummer Richard Holmgrem (Wolf, Grand Design).
19. Michael - II
Sophomore album from Michael impresses as heavier than AOR influenced debut The Battle Rages On with a melodic hard rock and commercial metal trending. Group takes its songwriting to the next level, as revealed in top of the line cuts “When you Feel The Love”, “Movin’ On”, “Crucified” and “Fire”.
20. Dominus Meus - DM1 Re-vocalized
Side project of Evans & Stokes guitarist John Evans sees him aligning with veteran vocalist Dale Thompson for a melding of doom-like delicacies and bare bones metal intricacies. Album was originally recorded with Evans on vocals but re-released to include those of Thompson; hence, the ‘re-vocalized’ title.
21. True Strength - The Mighty Hand Of Yahweh
Fourth True Strength album of founding member and guitarist/bassist Ryan ‘the Archangel’ Darnell conceptually draws upon the Old Testament Book of Joshua. Similar to its previous efforts, True Strength preserves its affinity for ‘non-commercial’ heavy metal laced with aspects of epic, melodic and doom-metal.
22. The Waymaker - The Waymaker
New project of Narnia vocalist Christian Liljegren finds him again joining forces with multi-instrumentalist Jani Stefanovic (noting the duos previous partnership as part of Divinefire) and co-lead vocalist Katja Stevanovic. Self-titled debut takes a European metal heading laced with neo-classical and power metal vestiges.
23. We Are Resolute - Shine The Light
Third album on this year’s list to feature renowned Bride front man Dale Thompson traverses a bluesy merging of melodic metal and hard rock on debut Shine The Light. We Are Resolute exhibits a deft songwriting touch in composing catchy compositions to remain with you for some time.
24. Roland Bühlmann - Dubnos
Swiss multi-instrumentalist Roland Bühlmann returns with fourth album of instrumental progressive rock to highlight ambient and ethereal leanings with rhythm guitar to taste. Album features only six songs but over 50 minutes of music.
Side Note: Review forthcoming in the very near future!
Re-issues
What I said in my article outlining the top 25 albums from 2019 continues to hold true:
Due to the overwhelming volume of re-issues released in 2020 it was (sadly) not possible to review everything. That said, it deserves note the excellent job done by re-issue labels Girder, Retroactive and Roxx Records in that quality to re-mastering and packaging has never been higher. Following in my opinion are several of the year’s most notable re-issues (listed alphabetically):
Barren Cross - Atomic Arena & State Of Control
Second and third Barren Cross albums receive a long overdue re-release on Retroactive Records. Latter includes both the “Escape In The Night” (Enigma release) and “Your Love Gives” (Benson) bonus tracks.
Bride - Drop
Kudos to Girder Music for my favorite re-issue of the year (noting eye catching revamped cover art) in underrated seventh Bride album Drop.
Deliverance - Deliverance
Storied self-titled Deliverance debut has been re-issued twice previously but best attributes to the Retroactive Gold Disc Edition.
Deliverance - Learn
Speaking of long overdue, Retroactive is behind the re-release to what in my opinion is the best Deliverance album.
Die Happy - Die Happy & Volume II
Credit Roxx Records for much need re-issues (on Gold Disc Edition CD) to both Die Happy albums.
Paradox - Ruler & Power & Glory
Custom cassette releases from 1987 and 1988 by talented San Antonio based act see long awaited re-issue on Retroactive.
Saint - Time’s End & Too Late For Living
Second and third albums from Saint have been re-issued numerous times, but the Gold Disc Edition version on Retroactive set the standard.
Siloam - Sweet Destiny
Re-issue of underrated Siloam debut attributes to Retroactive.
Honorable Mention: Recon - Behind Enemy Lines (Roxx), Sacred Warrior - Master’s Command (Retroactive), Ken Tamplin & Friends - An Axe To Grind (Girder), David Zaffiro - The Other Side, In Scarlet Storm, Surrender Absolute & Yesterday’s Left Behind (all Retroactive)
